Garbage fee hike trashed

September 25, 2013

Big Spring City Council has done an about-face on plans to increase garbage collection fees this year.

Two weeks after tentatively approving monthly increases of $3 for residences and $5 for businesses, the council voted 4-to-3 to nix the idea during their regular meeting Tuesday evening.

Marcus Fernandez, the lone council member to vote against the fee increase two weeks ago, was joined by colleagues Carmen Harbour, Glen Carrigan and Marvin Boyd in defeating the measure. Mayor Larry McLellan and council members Bobby McDonald and Raul Benavides voted for the fee increase.

With city levies increasing in other areas, Boyd said it was time to give residents a break.

â€ś(Residents) already absorbed a double hit with the tax increase and the landfill fee increase,â€ť Boyd said. â€śThis just seemed like piling on.â€ť